This Week in Golf -- Jan. 4 through Jan. 7

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - PGA TOUR - HYUNDAI TOURNAMENT OF
CHAMPIONS, Kapalua Resort (Plantation Course), Kapalua, Hawaii - The 2013 PGA
Tour season kicks off in Hawaii on Friday with 30 players in the field for the
Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

Steve Stricker carded a pair of 69s in the final two rounds last year as he
beat Martin Laird by two strokes. Stricker's worst finish in his last four
appearances at Kapalua was a tie for 10th in 2010.

The Wisconsin native will be the only previous winner of the event in the
field this week. He'll have strong competition in his quest to repeat as
champion.

Reigning major champions Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson are both in the field.
Watson has played here the last two years and his best finish came last year
when he tied for 18th, while Simpson shared third place in his first
appearance at Kapalua in 2012.

Players Champion Matt Kuchar tied for sixth here in 2011, while Tour
Championship winner Brandt Snedeker is making his first appearance after
skipping the tournament last year.

The last two years saw a pair injuries in the surf. Two years ago Lucas Glover
sprained his knee while paddle boarding and last year Geoff Ogilvy cut his
finger on some coral.

This event starts a shortened season as what was the Fall Series will now
start the 2013-14 season in October. There will be seven fewer tournaments due
to the truncated season.

Golf Channel will have coverage of all four rounds of the event that is being
played Friday to Monday. NBC has some early action on Sunday, while Monday's
final round is slated to end at 8 p.m. (et), while the other three rounds are
slated to finish at 10 p.m.

The PGA Tour remains in Hawaii next week for the Sony Open, where Johnson
Wagner won by two strokes last.